Anxiety is a psychiatric disorder in its own right but is also a primary symptom of conditions ranging from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to substance use. If you’re plagued by anxiety and depression, visit Katrina Gary-Forté, PhD, at Trade It In in Houston, Texas. Dr. Gary-Forté offers compassionate mental health counseling for people struggling with all forms of anxiety and depression. Call her office today to learn about effective anxiety and depression treatments or book an appointment using the online form.
Anxiety is a combination of fear, stress, and worry. It’s something most people feel before an important or scary event or when facing challenges in their lives such as hospital visits, exams, and interviews. Anxiety only becomes problematic when it starts taking over your life.
Some people have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), where everything is a source of fear and worry. You might fret about visiting the grocery store, feel stressed about potential problems like car accidents, and find it impossible to make decisions.
Phobias are also an anxiety disorder, but your fear relates to something specific like spiders, rats, heights, or flying. Social anxiety disorder is a phobia that focuses on being with other people. When faced with the source of your phobia or even thinking about it, your anxiety levels are extreme. In between times, you can function normally.
Anxiety symptoms aren’t limited to feelings of severe worry, stress, and fear. You could also have problems such as:
Some people with anxiety experience panic attacks, where their symptoms suddenly become overwhelming. These episodes are so unpleasant and distressing that you begin taking extreme measures to avoid them, like shutting yourself away at home all the time.
Many anxiety patients also live with depression, a disorder that makes you feel hopeless and worthless for weeks, months, or sometimes years.
Dr. Gary-Forté at Trade It In offers patients a way to escape their suffocating anxiety and depression and start enjoying life again. She provides expert counseling, including interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Interpersonal psychotherapy involves talking to Dr. Gary-Forté about your anxieties and other problems in your life. She helps you discover what might be triggering your anxiety and depression and how to process the thoughts and emotions surrounding it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is also helpful for anxiety and depression. With Dr. Gary-Forté’s help, you learn how to manage your anxiety and depression in daily life by challenging flawed thinking.
Some patients also benefit from taking anti-anxiety medications. If your anxiety and depression is severe, drugs help calm you so you can get the most out of your therapy sessions.
You don’t have to hide from life because of anxiety and depression. Let Dr. Gary-Forté help you free your mind from abnormal fear and worry by calling Trade It In today or booking an appointment online.